The Australian actress became emotional when she addressed the U.S. legislative body, discussing outbreaks of violence experienced by women in the Congo, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Academy Award winner urged Congress to provide more substantial aid, saying, “These champions need and deserve our support. Not with a box of band aids but with a comprehensive, well-funded approach that acknowledges that women’s rights are human rights.”

She explained that about a third of all women worldwide will experience abuse at some point in time.

Gallery Info: Nicole Kidman at the International Violence Against Women: Stories and Solutions Hearing.